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Graffiti "bomber" hits Denver areas with peace signs

Mike Becker walks along East 13th Avenue on Monday past some of the peace symbols that were spray-painted over the weekend.
(Judy DeHaas, The Denver Post
)

Peace signs spray-painted on businesses and homes have evoked more anger than harmony in Denver's Capitol Hill and Uptown neighborhoods.

Homes, businesses and bridges in the central Denver neighborhoods were tagged with the universal sign for peace during the weekend.

On Monday, Denver police said they have not identified suspects in the case. If the total damage to buildings is $1,000 or more, the vandals could be charged with a felony.

The city catalogued 51 peace signs in the East 13th and 14th avenue corridors heading east from downtown. Denver Public Works spokeswoman Ann Williams estimated the city will pay as much as $2,000 to scrub the symbols off walls.

Inspections are continuing on East 10th, 11th and 12th avenues, Williams said.

Businesses and homes on East 17th Avenue were tagged, too.

"I'm all for people making a peaceful statement, but this is a little excessive," said Denver resident Christopher Medved.

Medved, 27, said six peace signs were sprayed on his apartment complex Sunday morning. The City O' City restaurant on East 13th Avenue where Medved works also was targeted.

Williams said Denver has not seen a vandalism "bombing" of peace signs before. A bombing is when vandals strike fast and furious, and limit their activity to a particular neighborhood.

Williams said the city will remove the graffiti from private homes and businesses if owners complete a release form. If the city does not have a form on file, owners will be charged for the cost of removing the graffiti. Many of the peace signs were sprayed onto brick, which requires one or more power washes to remove.

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Patrick Deboar, manager of the Buffalo Exchange clothing store on East 13th Avenue, said he reported peace signs on the storefront Monday morning.

During his 12 years in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, Deboar said, he has seen his share of vandalism.

"I love a good piece of graffiti done by a good graphic artist, but this is vandalism," Deboar said.

He said that he will protect a good piece of graffiti, like one that decorates the back of his building.

Everything else is just a nuisance, he said.

Other business owners on East 13th Avenue said they share Deboar's opinion about graffiti versus vandalism.

Felipe Perez, a New York City native and owner of Moxie Hair Company, said that graffiti has developed into a form of art that carries a message. The only message Perez got from the peace signs on his storefront was annoyance.

"People may have an idea of peace — don't put it on my wall," he said.

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